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Breath-holding and its breakpoint.

M J Parkes1

  • 1School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. m.j.parkes@bham.ac.uk

Experimental Physiology
|November 8, 2005
PubMed
Summary
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Human breath-holding is voluntary but overridden by an involuntary reflex. This reflex, causing the breakpoint breath, is not fully explained by lung mechanics, blood gases, or chemoreceptors alone.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Respiratory System
  • Human Performance

Background:

  • Breath-holding duration is a variable measure.
  • It is a voluntary act, but involuntary mechanisms limit it.
  • Existing explanations for the breakpoint breath are incomplete.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review basic properties of human breath-holding.
  • To explore potential causes of the breakpoint breath.
  • To discuss less-known properties influencing breath-hold duration.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on breath-holding.
  • Analysis of factors affecting breath-hold duration.
  • Discussion of physiological mechanisms involved.

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Main Results:

  • Breath-holding is limited by an involuntary reflex, not solely by lung shrinkage or blood gas changes.
  • The central respiratory rhythm continues during breath-holding.
  • Paralysis of phrenic or vagus nerves prolongs breath-hold duration.
  • Diaphragm chemoreceptors may play a larger role than previously thought.

Conclusions:

  • The breakpoint reflex in breath-holding is complex and not fully understood.
  • Voluntary breath-holding involves suppressing, not stopping, the respiratory rhythm.
  • Further research is needed to explain all observed properties of breath-holding.